ST JOSEPH, Mo. – The Newman University women's basketball team suffered a hard fought 68-58 loss to Missouri Western, Wednesday evening (Dec. 19) inside the MWSU Fieldhouse at the Looney Complex.
Offense was hard to come by early, until sophomore Braxtyn Stewart hit a triple ending the 1:20 scoring drought giving the Jets the 3-0 lead. MWSU answered back taking their first lead, 8-3 with 1:41 to play in the quarter. Despite the early shooting woes, the Jets closed the quarter strong with a 6-0 run off Haley Albers and Kaitlyn Potter back-to-back triples. The Jets took an 11-8 lead into the second quarter.
After a slow start in the second quarter a jumper from freshman, forward Faith Mason-Vestal ended the Jets 4:05 scoring drought and MWSU 6-0 run. The Griffons used a late run of 9-2 in the quarter, stretching their lead to 25-18. Potter, the Arkansas City, KS native kept Newman in the contest scoring the final seven points for the Jets. The Griffons gained the momentum just before the half on a three pointer that fell beating the buzzer, gaining their largest lead of, 28-20.
The Griffons offense continued the momentum out of the halftime break with an opening 5-0 run, 35-24. Stewart put the run to rest hitting her second triple of the game cutting the Griffons lead back down to single digits. The Griffons offense continued to attack the Jets, storming back with a 7-0 run extending their lead back out to double digits, 42-27. The three point shooting by the Jets continued to keep the game in reach after Makayla Hayes and Potter hit back-to-back triples, cutting the lead to 12 late in the third. The Griffons scored the final three points of the third taking a 53-38 lead into the fourth.
After trailing by as many as 17 just 18 seconds into in the fourth quarter, the Jets would not go away easy. The Jets cut the Griffons lead to single digits, 57-48 with 6:08 to play after a 5-0 run. Potter continued to lead the comeback for the Jets, scoring eight of the Jets 10 points during a 10-0 run, cutting the MWSU lead to three with 55 seconds to play. The Jets however were unable to get any closer as the Griffons knocked down seven of their final eight free throws spoiling the late fourth quarter comeback, 68-58.
Potter led the Jets in scoring for the second straight game with 23 points off the bench. Potter has recorded back-to-back 20 point plus performances for the first time of her Jets career. Stewart was the lone starter to score over five points finishing with 13. Abbey George collected eight rebounds leading the way for the Jets.
The Jets head into the Christmas break 7-5 and will return to action December, 31st against Southwester. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.
